About this project

Dwarven Forge's Caverns-Dwarvenite Game Tiles Terrain

$2,140,851

pledged of $100,000 goal

3,950

backers

Welcome to our Kickstarter. Please watch the video above (if you haven’t already), and take a look below, which shows what 2-set backers get. It includes 54 free stretch goal pieces (27 for each set) so far! Click to
see the latest Stretch Goal Map or our Offer
Guide, which lists all our latest Add-on Packs.

If you’d like to back this Kickstarter, there are two key parts: 1) Main Cavern sets, now with lots of free, included stretch goals (pledge for as many main sets as you’d like); and, 2) optional Add-on Packs, which add incredible variety to your setups. You must pledge for at least 2 main sets to order add-on packs.

Our modular game tiles are like beautiful, highly detailed, handcrafted Lego for gamers, made of a specially developed material called Dwarvenite. Dwarvenite feels great – and it’s nearly indestructible.

The links below provide a gallery of photos and Offer Guide, with more videos here, and lots of details below.

Please note that the water is pure Dwarvenite, not an added acrylic layer. We have found this look is better, and the product much more durable.

Here's our "Death By Caverns" 60 second video for some amazing layouts.

Click on the image below to use our free online Mapmaker program. You can see how all the new set and add-on pack pieces work together to form amazing layouts.

The background: Last year, after 17 years devoted to our beautiful resin terrain, we decided resin just wasn’t good enough! Why? While resin holds great detail, it is costly and a little bit fragile. But what to do?

After nearly a year of research, we developed an incredibly durable, more affordable and high quality casting material called Dwarvenite. We launched Dwarvenite dungeon tiles last April on Kickstarter -- and your support was staggering.

Now, we aim for the next level – deeper detail, more intricate shapes, dramatic depth and complexity. We’re proud to present: Dwarvenite Caverns!

Just like last year, we face the same challenge: to produce Dwarvenite Caverns, we must commit to costly steel tooling and a high production run. So once again, we're asking for your help. In return for your support: exclusive pricing that won't be available and incredible stretch goals that won't be included after this Kickstarter.

We hope you'll read on -- and join us in making Caverns an even more exciting campaign than last year!

What is Dwarvenite?

It’s a non-toxic, PVC based material, specially compounded to hold precise detail, take paint well, and withstand a serious beating. About the same density as resin, Dwarvenite has a wonderful, tactile feel. And the pieces look great. In last year’s Kickstarter, Dwarven Forge President, Jeff Martin threw the original Dwarvenite Game Tiles off a 10-story tower, and then ran them over with his truck – and there was not even a scratch. While we don’t suggest doing that at home, Dwarvenite will stand up to almost anything

Why Caverns?

Although their complexity makes Cavern-shaped pieces a little more costly than last year’s straight dungeons, perhaps no environment has the dramatic visual impact of a Cavern. Yet creating a great Cavern is no simple task. You need exceptional textures, vivid shapes, rich detail – and the ability to create a nearly infinite variety of subterranean scenes.

Design and sculpting took months to perfect. Before starting, Stefan traveled to Mammoth Caves, the world's largest cave system, to study their formations. From the shapes of the stones in our cavern floors, to the subtle curvature of the stalactite covered walls, to the striking formations throughout, our Caverns will bring your game alive. The Main Set has beautifully detailed floors, walls and “corners,” along with a ton of Kickstarter-only free stretch goals. Special add-on packs (passages, lava, water, stalagmites, mushrooms, elevations) add much more!

Dungeon Gray or Expertly Hand Painted?

You may choose either of two finishes.

Dungeon Gray is infused with a single color that looks great right out of the box. You can embellish these tiles by adding paint yourself. We offer custom formulated paints and brushes made specifically for painting Dwarvenite. (Please note that add-on set features like lava or water will also be gray on Dungeon Gray sets.)

Or, for a reasonable premium, pledge for Expertly Hand Painted sets. These are completely hand painted precisely to Stefan’s specifications, perfect for a Cavern, and a great complement for your other Dwarven Forge terrain, including your Dwarvenite Dungeons.

Why
We Need Your Kickstarter Support

Dwarvenite is less expensive to produce than the classic polyresin in large production runs. But the large steel molds make up-front costs extremely high, and that makes small production runs impossible.

With a successful Kickstarter, we can commit to a single, large production run -- and offer these Caverns to backers at an exclusively low price. The stronger your support, the more efficient our production, and the more generous our stretch goals. If our total reaches levels close to last year’s Game Tiles Kickstarter, you’ll be able to cover your table in incredible new pieces!

The amount of your pledge is up to you. But certain pledge levels qualify for specific rewards. The cost for (ground) shipping your Caverns to a US address is included with your pledge. To ship your Caverns outside the US, an additional payment must be added to your pledge as specified below.

These pledge levels all qualify for free stretch goals (1 set of stretch goals for every set you back) and make you eligible to purchase add-on packs, shown here. Each level also receives a forum graphic and a tote:

Photos of the various pledge levels are shown below (most show the Expertly Painted Sets).

If you would like add-on sets, please add the amounts for those sets (plus any applicable international shipping) onto your total pledge amount.
Please use this pledge calculator to determine your pledge total.

Keep in mind you must (and can only) select a single pledge level listed in the right hand column, even if your are pledging for additional items. Please be assured that after the campaign closes, our Pledge Manager will capture the order details.

Note: Free stretch goals are not included for 1 set pledges.

The graphic below shows the amazing amount of FREE Stretch Goal pieces you get with EVERY SET you back. So, if you back up for 10 sets, you will get TEN TIMES the amount of pieces shown below (in the paint finish you backed).

Who gets stretch goals?

Backers for 2 or more sets are eligible for stretch goals (a 1 set pledge does not qualify).

What are stretch goals?

Many are free individual pieces; others are optional, larger paid “add-on” sets, available exclusively to 2+ set backers at especially low prices. New stretch goals unlock as we hit specified total pledge levels.

Free Stretch Goals: 2+ set backers automatically receive one (of every) free stretch goal per every main Cavern set in their pledge (e.g. a 3 set pledge receives 3 sets of free stretch goals). The finish of your free stretch goal pieces (Dungeon Gray or Expertly Hand Painted) will match your pledge. So, if you pledge for (2 or more) Dungeon Gray sets, your free stretch goals will also be Dungeon Gray. If you pledge for (2 or more) Expertly Hand Painted sets, your free stretch goal pieces will be Expertly Hand Painted.

Paid add-on packs: 2+ set backers may purchase as many paid add-on sets as they wish by adding the appropriate amount to their pledge, i.e. “over-pledging.”* You can calculate the correct amount to "over-pledge" by referencing this Offer Guide and using our online Pledge Calculator. (Buying paid add-on sets does not affect your free stretch goal rewards in any way.)

*You may also over-pledge to obtain more than a single pledge level (e.g. for one 2-set pledge and one 5-set pledge).

We will open an online survey to get our backers’ votes for pieces they want for this pack. Stefan will pick the best ideas and he will sculpt the pieces this week (or as quickly as he can). Then backers can add funding to order theWicked Cavern Pack inside Fundafull, our Pledge Manager. The Wicked Cavern Pack will also feature a memorial piece in memory of Stefan’s loving mother who passed during this project.

CLICK HERE to give us your ideas for pieces that should be included in the Wicked Cavern Pack! Thank you!

All 2+ set pledges receive one set of free stretch goals pieces per set. As of today, this includes 19 additional free pieces per set!

You can get
them in Dungeon Gray (shown below) or Expertly Hand Painted (shown
on most photos on this page).

To USA addresses (including US territories and US military
bases): Ground shipping (with tracking but without signature
required) is included.

Outside the USA:
Backers outside the US must add the international shipping charge.

Import Duties and Fees outside the USA and Canada:
While we will make every effort to mitigate import duties (as we did
last time), all backers outside the USA and Canada are responsible for paying any import duties/fees. Please consider this in advance since we cannot return product
to the US or refund pledges after shipment. (While Canadian recipients must pay international shipping, we
will handle Canadian import duties/fees.)

Risks and challenges

Several factors that could affect the delivery time. These include weather and labor related events that could slow down shipping. We’re very grateful to our team of resources that we shipped our last Kickstarter on time.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,000 or more
About $3,000

GRAND MASTER PATRON: 10 CAVERN SETS (EXPERTLY HAND PAINTED) + D&D fun with Stefan: (Stefan Pokorny) will run you (and up to 7 of your friends) through a marathon D&D adventure -- plus a few other surprises. This is your chance to game with a legend! The Reward Level does not cover any travel or hotel, but Stefan will buy you (and up to 7 friends) food and drinks. Must be redeemed by Dec 15, 2014. (International recipients are responsible for any applicable import fees.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $4,500 or more
About $4,500

Stefan is so overwhelmed by the support by this great gaming community that he is feeling adventurous....

AT YOUR PLACE/GRAND MASTER PATRON: 10 CAVERN SETS (EXPERTLY HAND PAINTED) + D&D fun with Stefan: Stefan Pokorny will come to you, and run you (and up to 7 of your friends) through a marathon D&D. This is your chance to game with a legend! Pledge date and location subject to final approval by Stefan (if not approved, your pledge will be refunded). Please note that for some areas that Stefan might require ground transport and assistance in your area. Must be redeemed by Dec 15, 2014. (International recipients are responsible for any applicable product import fees.) Estimated delivery: Dec 2014 Add $350 USD to ship product outside the U.S. Add $2,000 for travel outside the U.S. and Canada.